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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put a note through the door?

75 replies

NoRoomForALittleOne · 05/10/2018 11:31

DH and I are currently house hunting and the house we are looking for has some specific requirements for working from home. Last week we phoned the agents of a house that has been on the market for a long time and asked to view a property. They never called back so I chased them up to be told that it was now under offer. I’m frustrated that they never told the vendor about us while they were considering the offer. We are a cash buyer and have our own surveyor and legal team so will not be held up at any point of proceedings. I’m considering putting a note through the door along the lines of ‘if it all falls through, will you let us know and explaining our situation. However, the vendors are elderly and frail so I don’t want them to feel harassed. I’m just not convinced that the agents are doing their job otherwise I’d happily leave it up to them.

OP posts:
Bumdishcloths · 05/10/2018 11:32

Completely unreasonable and not your place to attempt to break a probably established chain.

TwitterQueen1 · 05/10/2018 11:42

Of course you can do it! It's perfectly acceptable. TBH, if it was on for a long time, and no-one told you and the vendors are elderly and frail I would be a little suspicious about whether or not someone is trying to pull a fast one on them. But perhaps that's just me....

You could put your details on the note, but maybe also put your agent's as they might prefer to contact them, rather than you (even though your agent didn't tell you..)

TinyLittleTextMessage · 05/10/2018 11:44

Go for it! Nothing to lose!

LucieMorningstar · 05/10/2018 11:45

The estate agents are legally obliged to allow viewings even after an offer has been accepted though aren’t they?

TinyLittleTextMessage · 05/10/2018 11:49

LucieMorningstar - in England the sellers can continue to show people round after they have accepted an offer, but most buyers ask that the house is taken off the market once an offer has been accepted. But if the buyer ignored that request, there would be nothing the buyers could do about it.

JellySlice · 05/10/2018 11:53

Not at all. It's not their property. Even the householder isn't obliged to allow viewings at any point.

Go ahead and write to the householders, OP. I don't see why such a letter would upset anyone.

ShadyLady53 · 05/10/2018 11:53

I’m considering putting a note through the door of a property that I think the EA has been messing me around on. I strongly suspect that they lied about something. They said a contractor had been in and lost the keys and cancelled on the day of viewing but offered another property to view. It would have been a second viewing and I would have been making a cash offer too. They were supposed to get back to me to re-arrange and never did. House has been on the market for a long while and is show room quality so don’t see what a contractor was in to do
as it was in perfect condition when we viewed it a fortnight before the second viewing was cancelled.

I say go for it. You might have had a better offer for them and the EA should be acting in the seller’s best interests.

YeTalkShiteHen · 05/10/2018 11:54

In Scotland under offer means you can’t have viewings or make a counter offer.

Juells · 05/10/2018 12:07

My daughter was in a similar position - she saw a flat she liked, agent said it was under offer. I thought she was being very cheeky to put a note through the door, but she did it anyway. Heard back a week or so later from the vendors to say the previous offer had fallen through, and she bought the flat for the asking price. I can't see that it would upset the vendors, they can always throw the note in the bin.

TinyLittleTextMessage · 05/10/2018 12:22

YeTalkShiteHen - you definitely have a better system in Scotland!

YeTalkShiteHen · 05/10/2018 12:23

TinyLittleTextMessage I’m always really shocked by some of the skulduggery on property threads on here, and that the law allows it!

SoupDragon · 05/10/2018 12:39

the vendors are elderly and frail

Don’t do it. If someone did this to my elderly mother it would stress her and make her doubt her decision. I would be pissed off with you.

FruitofAutumn · 05/10/2018 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 05/10/2018 12:48

I don't think you're a twat. You're just asking to be considered if the previous buyers pull out, as does often happen. I wouldn't mind getting a note like that. Just because they're elderly doesn't mean they aren't in possession of their faculties. A friendly note to indicate interest is fine, I think.

NewGrandad · 05/10/2018 12:53

@YeTalkShiteHen

In Scotland under offer means you can’t have viewings or make a counter offer

But there are still ways round it. Like not completing until the last moment. We lost a house this way 4 years ago with our property already sold. We'd had our offer accepted but someone else turned up at the vendor's door 24 hours later with a higher offer and we lost out.

Ended up with a better house though but that's not the point.

diddl · 05/10/2018 12:53

Presumably they didn't phone back as it was an offer had been accepted?

Surely there's no need to bother the vendors-just keep an eye on things yourself?

amicissimma · 05/10/2018 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ADastardlyThing · 05/10/2018 12:55

What a totally twattish thing to do.

YeTalkShiteHen · 05/10/2018 12:56

But there are still ways round it. Like not completing until the last moment. We lost a house this way 4 years ago with our property already sold. We'd had our offer accepted but someone else turned up at the vendor's door 24 hours later with a higher offer and we lost out.

Ah I didn’t know that, sorry you had such a crap time. I confess I’ve only ever bought twice, and the estate agent told me what I wrote so it’s only based on very limited experience.

pacer142 · 05/10/2018 12:57

You're just asking to be considered if the previous buyers pull out, as does often happen.

Indeed, but why not just lodge their details with the EA. After all the owners have appointed the EA to sell their house for them. If they'd wanted to do it themselves, they could have done so.

Bluntness100 · 05/10/2018 12:58

I'd have assumed the offer was on thr condition that thr house came off thr market. I'd also assume it's taken awhile to sell and the owners are elderly and frail it's in their best interests to not jeapordise the offer they have and as such the agent is doing his or her job and working in their favour. Not yours.

Bluntness100 · 05/10/2018 12:59

And agree, just ask the agent to keep your details if it falls through, don't hassle the venders.

Blackoutblinds · 05/10/2018 13:03

If the owners are elderly and frail I wouldn’t. It feels harassing to me. And pressuring.

Maybe just reiterate to the agent that if it falls through you’re very interested?

CrazySheepLady · 05/10/2018 13:04

I would do it! Even if a property in England is under offer, a vendor can still consider and accept or reject other offers. It sounds like you're in a strong position to proceed so I don't think you have anything to lose.

I used to work with a woman whose house was very desirable, not for sale at all, but they'd have notes through the door from people who'd be interested if they did want to sell. Did no harm.

lottiegarbanzo · 05/10/2018 13:11

Emphasise your 'keen and desirable buyer' status to the EA. Leave it there.

It sounds like you were unlucky with timing. They accepted an offer before they were able to arrange your viewing (and may have received it before your request to view).

Remember, EA's favour reliable buyers. If you're known to have form for messing about, putting your interests first in ways that jeopardise other people's, they'll consider you a risk, as, why wouldn't you do the same to their client, when you find something better, half way through the sale process? Be upfront but tread carefully.

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